"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Elrohir asked, stepping forwards and putting a restraining hand on Estel's shoulder. "I do not think that Legolas will want us in with him today. Airëlus is being laid to rest this day, and it will be the last time he ever looks on him."
"You are giving excuses for him not to be alone," Elladan said, pulling his twin back and pushing the mortal towards the door. "We just want to make sure he is alright, nothing more. If what you say is true, and he would rather be left alone, then we will leave him in peace."
Elrohir rolled his eyes. "You should know how he feels, 'Dan. After all, you are the one who has the visions."
"Do not quarrel today," Estel hissed. He glared at the two Elves for a moment, before raising his arm and knocking on the door. There was a tense silence for a moment, but when they were given permission to enter, poorly disguised relief flitted across all three faces.
"Think before you speak," Elrohir muttered, following his brothers into the room.
Legolas was sitting on the edge of his bed, wearing not his usual shades of dark green and blue. Instead, he wore a long silver tunic, which shimmered when he moved, or when the sun shining through the window caught it. His long golden hair was flowing loose, though he held one lock in his hand. He had clearly been trying to braid it himself, but the shaking of his hands was visible even from the door.
"I never once envisioned myself getting ready to witness the burial of my own brother," he said softly.
Elladan and Elrohir bowed their heads, but Estel went forwards to sit beside his friend. "It is not something that one normally thinks of. How are you feeling?"
Honestly? Better than I have done since…well, since it happened," Legolas replied. "Does that sound strange? I spoke with my father last night, and he said he would help me get through this. I did not believe at first that I would be able to, but now…I don't know. I think I can believe his words, though. But it still feels wrong that I feel no grief."
"You do feel grief," Elrohir said softly. "There is no point saying that you will just be able to breeze through these next few days, because that would just give you false hope. You show no grief on the outside, but your heart feels it."
"I know. I can feel it hurting," Legolas said in a low voice. He glared down at the half completed braid in his hand, and tucked it behind his ear.
"Do not expect things to change immediately." Elladan sat behind his friend on the bed, and pulled a lock of golden hair towards him. "Do you want me to do this for you?"
"Thank you." Legolas glanced out of the window, up at the clouds, and sighed. "It is not long before we leave."
"Do you know what the…the procedure will be?" Elrohir asked carefully.
"There is going to be a service for everyone who died that night," the Prince replied distantly. "All of the soldiers' bodies will be in the mausoleum after the service. Airëlus told me once that he would rather be buried out in the woods, so that he would be 'free to breathe'. I laughed when he said that. I do not find it funny any more."
"So he is being buried in the forest?" Estel asked. "That is nice."
Legolas nodded, and the Elf behind him tugged meaningfully on his braid. "Sorry. But yes, it is nice. His first wish was to be buried in the clearing that our mother died in. But that…well, the fire has destroyed it. But there was another spot that he enjoyed going to, so he will be laid to rest there."
Elladan shot Elrohir a sideways glance, surprised at the calm way in which their friend spoke of his eldest brother. They had not expected this, although they would not deny that this was better for him. They both noticed though, that nothing had been said about Calaen. They also both knew not to mention him, especially today of all days.
A silence so loud that it seemed almost to be deafening filled the room. Normally, the quietness would have been broken from noises down in the courtyard, or the training fields. But today, everything and everyone was still, mourning for their Crown Prince and the warriors who had lost their lives. Even the birds seemed to know of the importance of the day, for not one of them made a noise.
The door was quietly opened, and the group of friends looked up to see Thranduil coming in. He wore long robes of a deep, imperial blue in place of the green tunic that he had been wearing the last few days, and upon his golden head was a crown of holly leaves. He looked far from happy – who could blame him? – but he forced a smile upon his face, merely for the sake of his child.
Elrohir and Estel nodded respectfully, and quickly went across to the door, sharing an understanding that it would be best to leave father and son alone in the few minutes before the service. Elladan swiftly finished braiding the other side of Legolas' hair, and touched a hand to his friend's shoulder as he got off the bed to follow his brothers.
"Legolas, I…" Thranduil sat beside his son, and shook his head slightly. "I am sorry. I should have told you before, but I did not get the chance."
"Ada? What are you talking about?"
The Elven-king sighed deeply as he pulled a golden circlet from behind his back. "This."
"That is Airëlus'," Legolas said slowly. "Why have you brought it in here?"
"You are now the Crown Prince of Mirkwood," Thranduil replied. "I do not expect you to take on the duties that your brother had to take care of even for a few years yet. I do not believe you to be old enough. But-
"Ada, why have you brought it in here?" Legolas pressed.
"It was mine once, and when Airëlus was born, it became his. Now it is yours. It is tradition for it to be passed down, and-
"Leave tradition out of this," the Prince snapped. "I cannot wear that. Not yet, anyway. It is too soon."
"Yes, I know. If you had let me finish, I would have said that I understand you will need time to get used to the idea." Thranduil shook his head slightly. "Of course you do not want to start wearing it straight away. When you wear it, our people will look to you as their Crown Prince. Do you really think I would force that upon you today of all days?"
Legolas sighed deeply. "I am sorry. I know that you would not do that. I just jumped to conclusions. Forgive me for snapping at you."
"It is no matter," the King replied.
"Ada…" Legolas looked up, a strange expression on his face. "That circlet is not mine. If Calaen still lives, then it should be his. He is next in line for the throne, not me."
"Do you honestly think I want him ruling Mirkwood?" Thranduil asked. "And do not presume to know his fate, ion-nin. We do not know whether he is still alive. I was going to discuss it with Mithrandir yesterday, but he…well, he threw me out of my study."
The Prince's eyes flickered. "He threw you out of your own study? Ada, I thought that you were the King."
"Yes well, status means nothing to foul tempered Istari," Thranduil muttered. He shook himself mentally, and passed his son the silver circlet which lay on the desk. "Here. Try and forget that I ever mentioned anything about becoming the Crown Prince."
Legolas nodded slowly, and glanced sideways. "Are you ready for this, Ada?"
"As ready as I will ever be," Thranduil sighed. "And you?"
"You promised me yesterday that I will get through this. I believe you. Seeing Airëlus for the last time will be painful, but I knew it would come sooner or later," the Prince replied. "Like you said, we will get through this."
Thranduil smiled, and touched a hand to his son's shoulder. "This is about you. You will get through it, was what I said."
"And I am saying that we will get through it," Legolas amended
The two locked eyes for a brief moment, each giving the other the reassurance that they needed. And then the tolling of a bell outside broke into their reveries, jerking them back to reality. It sounded twelve times. And then fell silent. The Prince bit down on his lip, realizing with a horrible and painful jolt that this was it. He was going to have to say goodbye to Airëlus for the last time.
"Come," Thranduil said softly. "It is time…"
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